Low Energy Data Centre
Materials for offices and facilities
The design aims for the facilities are different from the server room:
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Insure a level of insulation that fit with PassivHaus standard.
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Problem of condensation isn’t crucial anymore.
The choice we have done is a wooden box beam fully insulated with Lamb’s wool. A Matlab simulation demonstrates that we would have a U-value of 0.15W/m²K with a wall 40 cm thick.
Figure 1 : Wooden box fully insulated with lamb's wool
The reasons for the choice of these materials are that they are easily available from local suppliers, they are ecological and recyclables. Moreover, they are cheaper than the artificial and chemical products sell by insulators manufacturers.
A major issue with a high level of insulation in the facilities is the overheating in summer with the large bay facing south: it will be avoided by solar shading the façade.
Figure 2 : Solar shades
The associated excel spreadsheet is available below: